A few weeks ago I shared with you my top three favorite romantic songs. So this week I thought I’d share with you my very favorite romantic scenes from three of my favorite movies.
But let’s talk first about what makes a movie romantic. What is it that draws us in and keeps us glued to our seats, mindlessly munching artery clogging popcorn as we wait, breathlessly, for that final ‘aw’ inspiring scene? The moment we know that our time was well spent because we finally got our happily-ever-after fix.
The lead actor and actress have to be believable, for one thing. Some very talented people in the industry would be ill-cast in a romance. Can you imagine Lily Tomlin and Eddie Murphy as leads? That pairing really doesn’t ‘do it’ for me, and I’d probably avoid that movie…unless it more comedy than romance. Of course I never thought Adam Sandler had it in him either, until I saw him in 50 First Dates. And speaking of Adam Sandler, all I can say about his performance in Reign Over Me is…wow!!! Well, well worth your time to watch!
But back to the subject at hand…
The guy can’t be a jerk. Or if he is, he has to be changed by the end of the movie. Same for the woman. Sometimes, when we’re talking movies like Kate & Leopold we can only hope the guy doesn’t change. Not even a little. Leopold was perfect, start to finish, and I think if we ladies could find a real-life Leopold to give lessons to ‘normal’ guys, we’d all be happier. Maybe we could get Hugh Jackman to be the instructor… Hugh Jackman would make me very happy.
But let’s get to my top three for today (and that top three could change in an instant, as soon as I remember other romances I love).
In third place, and I’m surprised I’m including this at all, is A Walk to Remember. Usually I prefer a different sort of ending, but I’ll be good and not give away too much, for those who haven’t seen it yet. Let me just say I’ll be watching it periodically for years. Or until my DVD wears out. In fact, after previewing the trailer, I’ll probably be watching it after The Vampire Diaries tonight.
I wanted to post a specific scene but every video was embedded (which is extremely annoying!). So I had to settle for the trailer.
It’s really a toss up which of the next two I like the best, so I’m just going to do the eenie-meenie-miney-mo thing. They both star Sandra Bullock, who is one of my very favorite actresses, and I own more of her movies than I can even remember.
Okay, The Proposal got stuck in the second position. What’s not to like about this romantic comedy? I mean, c’mon. It stars Ryan Reynolds… It has some of the funniest scenes I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, most notably the ‘chant’ scene with Betty White. However, please note that this scene is not suitable for all ages.
Pay close attention to Betty’s face when Sandra starts singing louder.
And the top spot goes to…because it won courtesy of a grade-school game…The Lake House. Ya gotta know that if I watched The Matrix because Keanu Reeves was in it, I’d be parked front row center to see him in a romance with Sandra Bullock. Okay, okay. Back row center… Sitting close enough to kiss the screen really hurts my eyes. Plus you can’t see everything going on anyway.
So now that I’ve shared with you some scenes from a few of my favorite romantic movies, I hope you’ll share your top three picks with me. Chances are they will make my favorites list, too.
I’m kind of old school, so the romantic movies that I like are “Casablanca” (I know, not strictly a romance), the “Pride and Prejudice” miniseries, and the best of all,”Brief Encounter” (1945).
Most recently, I liked “The Notebook,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” and “The Remains of The Day” (again, not a romance, per se).
I guess I’m not old school, just old.
I enjoyed The Notebook, too. So much that I bought it. Haven’t seen the others. But I also like older romance movies. Most Doris Day/Rock Hudson (more romantic comedies), Cary Grant, My Fair Lady…can’t think of any more off the top of my head.
There’s one I caught a long time ago that probably no one has ever heard of…The Two Worlds of Jenny Logan…that I just loved at the time. I’d be tempted to buy that, too, except I find that things I loved in my teens are kind of silly to watch as an adult. 🙂
Oh I love Just Like Heaven, How to Lose a Guy…, and Sweet Home Alabama, too! Haven’t seen the other ones but Josh Lucas and Mark Ruffalo are great in those movies. So was Patrick Dempsey.
I had to include A Walk to Remember because, as a ‘hero,’ Landon was absolutely perfect. But I do hate the ending, every time I watch it.
LOL…you’re welcome to post long comments if you want. I enjoy getting them. 🙂
Should’ve mentioned…I liked A Walk to Remember, but refuse to watch again because of the end. The Proposal is in my personal DVD library, and I saw The Lake House once…I should probably rewatch that.
Ooh–and another great one–Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. So good!
Okay, I’m done. I think I’ll have to post my own blog on this instead of take up all your comment room. 🙂
The ending to The Cutting Edge is the best. My all time favorite romance movie. I’ve got a ton others. Ever After, Sweet Home Alabama, Bed of Roses, One Fine Day, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, and the list goes on and on. But if you haven’t seen The Cutting Edge, I say watch it!
Ohhh…you nailed it. Those are three of my FAVs as well. Last night I watched another one of my favs, Never Been Kissed and I love Pride and Prejudic (new version), Notebook, and Ever After! All goodies!!
Out of those three, I’ve seen The Notebook, which I also loved. Just not as much as these three. But if I made another list of my top three favorites in six months, it would probably be an entirely new list. I don’t watch a whole lot of television, or movies, but when I have a favorite, it’s a favorite forever. Unless my daughter becomes smitten with one. She must have watched Dirty Dancing ten million times. I cringe when I hear the music now. 🙂
Why did you have to go and make me cry so early in the morning? I love The Lake House. But I can’t control my emotions when it comes to things like that anymore. Omg, and that scene with Betty White – I’m so glad that made it in your top three. I love that scene. It is beyond awesome. Not to mention – HELLO – Ryan Reynolds! But you are right Hugh Jackson was perfect as Leopold in that movie. He is always perfect. Sigh.
I probably have you beat. When I saw pictures of a dog named Patrick…who had been starved until he was literally skin over bone, and then thrown several stories down a garbage chute, I cried like a baby. If it’s sad or touching at all, I need a tissue (happened the other night while watching The Blind Side, too…and it’s FOOTBALL. I don’t like football…).
Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds…they’re on my Christmas list, if Santa would READ it, I’d have a very merry Christmas this year. I’ve loved everything I’ve seen Ryan in, except The Change Up. My daughter and I walked out on that after about 20 minutes. Suggesting a little girl do a pole dance, even in a movie, is completely tasteless. I was very disappointed in him for that one, lol.
Oh good grief, I haven’t seen any of these movies… I have no idea where I’ve been. Clearly I have lots of catching up to do. 😉
My list would definitely include Kate and Leopold (Leopold was the partial basis for one of the characters in my WIP), as you can never, ever go wrong with Hugh Jackman. A Good Year is another one, because Russell Crowe plays a delightful jerk of a man, yet manages to turn himself around by the end (and the landscapes of the French countryside are to die for). My 3rd would be the 2004 BBC miniseries, North and South, because the last 5 minutes or so are utterly exquisite and wonderful and beautiful.
I don’t know if you like Sandra Bullock much or not but I just love most of her movies (and own at least six of them). The Proposal was so funny that, by the time it was over, my throat and ribs hurt from laughing so much.
Kate and Leopold is a favorite, too…and you’re spot on about Hugh Jackman. I plan to rent some robot fighting movie he’s in just because I like him.
I haven’t heard of the other two you mention, though I thought you meant The North and the South, a mini-series maybe from the 80’s or 90’s (?). It starred Patrick Swayze.
Well, crap. Now I’m going to have to watch A Walk to Remember again. Or re-read it. Because the book is even better. 🙂
LOL! I couldn’t get to the movie tonight so I’ll be watching it tomorrow. And probably starting the book. I haven’t read the whole thing yet (and then forgot we had it). But I just love that movie!